1. What % of Americans voted in the 2012 election? What % of registered voters voted in the 2012 election?
Only 58.6% of Americans voted and 84% of registered voters voted.
2. How do state requirements to register ahead of time prevent people from voting?
Many people either miss the registration deadline or don't want to put in the effort to actually register.
3. What reason do most people give for not participating in the election?
People do not think that their vote will matter. The process of registration and voting is a hassle: lines are long and voting often take place during inconvenient times of the day.
4. How do families and upbringing impact voter turnout in the future?
In affluent households, parents' opinions shape the kids'. If you're growing up in this environment, it's likely that your parents vote, teach you to vote, and your neighbors vote. Many on the other hand are taught that politics is a dirty business.
5. Why does having so many elections in the US cause turnout to decrease?
The overwhelming number of elections is tiring and makes it easier for people to not vote because there are so many their vote won't matter.
6. How do political parties impact which people show up and vote?
America's elections are often winner-take-all events with only two major parties in the competition. Often, voters do not agree with either party and abstain from voting. The two parties also don't have to turn out all voters. They can just focus on turning out loyal supporters.
7. What is Oregon experimenting with to try to increase voter turnout?
Oregon has tried voting by mail to allow later registration.
8. What would be the likely effect of turning Election Day into a giant festival?
Doing this can boost turnout because throwing a giant party can help cement cultural norms around voting.
9. Why do mandatory voting laws work if the punishments are not bad?
If punishments aren't bad, mandatory voting signals to the people that voting is expected.
No comments:
Post a Comment